Before you dive, be sure you’re familiar with basic operations of your camera, your flash, etcetera. If you see a great shot and are struggling to operate the flash or wondering how to zoom, you’ll miss the moment. If you expect to be wearing dive mitts, be sure that can still operate your camera controls with the mitts on.

Underwater lighting is very complex and will take years to master. The water has a magnifying effect. There is backscatter, and the angle of the sunlight on the water…even your depth and the murkiness of the water are all important factors, and they change constantly. (Shooting while the sun is high in the sky will help you get more direct lighting.) You need to experiment a lot before you get good at this…it’s like learning photography all over again, in this alternate undersea world. With perseverance, you’ll get a feel for it…and it’s one of the most enriching projects you’ll ever undertake. Most importantly: don’t expect National Geographic results…as with any new skill, you must approach it with the goal of personal enrichment, not immediate mastery!

scuba diving photography

No one ever recovers from the awe of their first dive…it’s when they first discovered that there is a startling world below, a mesmerizing playground they’d never forget. It is an altering experience. Underwater photography is a natural inclination…these are images that must be shared with those that don’t dive. The unusual fish, the ethereal look from the constant ebb of the lighting, the fluid look to the plant life…it simply cannot be described. And should you find something unusual, you’ll certainly wish that you had a record of it!

Getting started with underwater photography is a simple matter if you’re in possession of a few simple facts. The options for underwater cameras are vast…you might even choose a submersible digital camera. It might be best to start with a waterproof disposable camera; though the photo quality is lesser, it might be a good starting point. (Bear in mind you won’t be able to take them very deep.) Prior to taking any underwater photos, be sure that you have a certain comfort level with diving…you won’t be able to take good pictures until you’re comfortable with the equipment. Great photos require few distractions as well as patience.

5 steps to scuba diving

Conquering the water is a unique and stimulating experience…that can be terrifying to newcomers! After you’ve been diving for awhile, your initial fears will seem unfounded but we’d like to send you down with some confidence via these five simple steps.

1. Pack Your Confidence.
You’ve heard all the tales of danger…we’d like to dispel them! You’re 12 times as likely to encounter physical damage in a car, and yet you drive every day…without fear. What about sharks? The likelihood of even encountering one is several million to one…less than the likelihood of getting struck by lightning.

2. Find a Dive Shop
You can’t get to the next step until you have a tutor and the proper equipment! Thankfully, the internet makes this research a lot easier and more fruitful, and you might be able to save money by purchasing the equipment through an online entity. Initially, you’ll need a snorkel, mask, and fins. It’s advisable to wait to purchase the other equipment until you’ve gained some comfort with the basics.

3. Master the Three Phases
First, you’ll learn the basics of diving…for this, you’re pointed towards books and the internet and your feet will still be dry! Next, you’ll receive pool training so that can master the basics in a safe atmosphere, while you gain confidence. Then, it’s out to the open water with an instructor to verify your basic skills and knowledge of safety procedures.

4. Pick Your First Dive!
Talk to other divers! Visit websites! Look at pictures! Be sure your first dive location is an easy one…start small, build up, like any newly acquired skill. If your friends don’t dive, talk around, meet some locals that do…advice will be your ally during your startup.

5. Get Out There!
Don’t worry, you’ll get the hang of this…you were nervous when you learned to ride a bike, drive a car…and it passed quickly as your comfort level increased. With some time and commitment, your suit will feel like ordinary clothes and water will be a second home!

scuba diving checklist

When you first starting traveling, you’d forget your toothbrush one trip, your sunglasses the next…but there were stores where you were headed. No harm done…it was a matter of inconvenience.

But on a dive, if you forget a staple, it’s a serious matter, and if you can’t buy or borrow it where you’re at and you can’t do without, the dive has to be cancelled. Regular travelers don’t forget to pack things because they’ve got a system… same with seasoned divers. Learn from their errors and adopt their system: a simple gear list!

Mask: Essential for underwater visibility, and goggles cause too much localized pressure on your face as you dive deeper and water pressure increases.

Snorkel: Conserve your tank when you surface!

Fins: Fish grew these for a reason!

Wetsuit: Pack one that’s of course appropriate to the water temperatures as well as the diving hazards, such as urchins, jellyfish, etcetera. If the suit is not snug, it won’t function as effective insulation. Also, the density (thickness) of the suit is designed for different conditions (like a sleeping bag), so know what you own and what it’s rated for.

Hood and mitts: More heat is lost through your head than any other part of your body, so don’t underestimate the warmth value of a hood. If you’re not sure whether you’ll need them, be sure to bring them…it’s unlikely you’ll be too warm but you could certainly be too cold. Even if you doubt you’ll need them, conditions can change quickly and it can be hard to tell until you’re down there.

Booties: The insulated “skin” of these are a must in colder water/deeper dives. Again, if you’re unsure: PACK THEM.

Weight belt/weights: To help you stay down!

Buoyancy Control Device: This is essentially a bladder that’s filled from your tank, to conserve your energy when you’re surfacing or just resting.

Regulator: This allows you to breathe easily even at low pressure. Related components: octopus, submersible pressure gauge, low-pressure inflator, dry-suit inflator

Tanks: Be sure to check and fill if necessary!

Dive tables or computer: One of these is essential if you’re going deep.

Don’t forget compass, depth gauge, timer, and also consider the following accessories: float, flag, knives, sheath, dive watch, dive lights, camera, collection bag

Now you’re packed and ready to enjoy your trip underwater!

You take diving seriously and you take your gear seriously, too. You expect a dependable, high-quality dive computer, something full-featured yet user-friendly and lightweight. You expect the performance of a NiTek Plus.

The intuitive NiTek Plus turns on automatically as you descend and can monitor two different gases: one programmable for Nitrox mixes in the 21-50% range, the other with a range of 21-99%. Switching mixes is as easy as pushing a button. After surfacing, it will maintain the gas mixture until midnight.

The NiTek Plus uses a modified Buhlmann ZH-L16 algorithm to calculate decompression stop times for stops as deep as ninety feet. You’ll find its intuitive menus easy to program and you’ll appreciate its small and lightweight build.

Next you dive, be sure to bring a trusted partner…your NiTek Plus!